What I’ve Been Reading: May 2025

Hello and happy Wednesday…It’s our last day of school, so that makes this Wednesday even sweeter!

Well, I was afraid this might happen. The month has come where “my reading roll” slowed down. I did read one book and listened to one other, so I’m sharing those two with you today!

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

I’ll Have What She’s Having:

Summary:

There’s a woman I want to become, Chelsea Handler thought as a child. She’ll be strong and confident. She’ll light up a room and spread that light to make others feel better. She’ll make a living being herself. She’ll be a survivor.

At ten years old, Chelsea opened a lemonade stand and realized she’d make more money if the drinks were spiked. So she added vodka to her recipe and used her earnings to upgrade herself to first-class on a family vacation—leaving her parents and siblings in coach. She moved to Los Angeles and got fired from her temp job when she admitted she didn’t know how to transfer calls. She’s played pickleball with the scions of an American dynasty. She’s sexted a governor. She shared psychedelics with strangers in Spain. When she accidentally ended up at dinner with Woody Allen, she was not going to leave the table without asking him a very personal pointed question. She went on national television and talked about having threesomes. She’s never been one to hold back.

But this life of adventure and absurdity is only part of her story. Chelsea knows what it is to truly show up for her family—canine and human, biological and chosen. She’s discovered how to spend time with herself, how to meditate, how to be open to love, and how to end a relationship with dignity. She is a sister to the many women who rely on her.

Quick Thoughts:

Chelsea Handler was one of the first comedians I remember seeing on TV. I’d sometimes watch her Chelsea Lately show on E! and I read her 2008 book Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea.

Overall, I think she’s funny. She has a self-deprecating humor about herself, and listening to her read this book made it more enjoyable. Also, I think if you are interested in reading her book, listening to it is the way to go. If you know her humor, then of course, it was crass and inappropriate at times, but it was also funny and inspirational too. I didn’t realize she’d dated a man with three daughters and hearing about their relationship and how she’s continued to be there for the girls into their adult lives was a sweet spot in this memoir. She reads journal entries and reflects on her journey with therapy which also shows a softer side to her. She’s short and to the point and times and one of the best parts is when she shares the email she sent her family, her nieces and nephews, after one of the epic vacations she took the family on at some point. She’s very matter of fact with them about all they take for granted, how they should treat their mother (her sister), how they should treat others, and more. Again, Chelsea probably has a polarizing personality, but I thought this was a humorous read.

Rating:

Greenwich Park:

Summary:

Helen’s idyllic life—handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way (after years of trying)—begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen’s a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears.

But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen’s not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.

Quick Thoughts:

It’s been a bit since I’d read a mystery/thriller, and this one hit the spot! I always love a London setting and a creepy main character. From the start, you know something is “off” with Rachel but you’re just not sure what. There are twists and turns and pieces that I started to put together….but then of course, there’s always another final twist to round out the story. Some of the chapters are written in the point of view of the park which added an extra layer to the story. This was a good, quick read!

Rating:

Soon, I’ll share my summer reading list! I definitely hope to have more time to read in the next couple of months!